“The IPCC has launched the first three volumes of its assessment report Climate Change 2007 and is currently finalizing its Synthesis report [Fourth Assessment report (“AR4″]. The Synthesis Report [was] launched in Valencia, Spain, 17 November 2007 during a press conference.”
Summary for Policymakers of the Synthesis Report of the IPCC Fourth Assessment Report (23 pages, PDF): “Warming of the climate system is unequivocal, as is now evident from observations of increases in global average air and ocean temperatures, widespread melting of snow and ice, and rising global average sea level. Eleven of the last twelve years (1995-2006) rank among the twelve warmest years in the instrumental record of global surface temperature (since 1850). The 100-year linear trend (1906-2005) of 0.74 [0.56 to 0.92]°C 1 is larger than the corresponding trend of 0.6 [0.4 to 0.8] °C (1901-2000) given in the Third Assessment Report (TAR). The temperature increase is widespread over the globe, and is greater at higher northern latitudes. Land regions have warmed faster than the oceans. Rising sea level is consistent with warming. Global average sea level has risen since 1961 at an average rate of 1.8 [1.3 to 2.3]mm/yr and since 1993 at 3.1 [2.4 to 3.8]mm/yr, with contributions from thermal expansion, melting glaciers and ice caps, and the polar ice sheets. Whether the faster rate for 1993 to 2003 reflects decadal variation or an increase in the longer-term trend is unclear.”
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